Amidst reports and rumors of Microsoft thinking of acquiring publishers Electronic Arts (EA) and PUBG Corporation, it seems that Valve is also on the corporation’s mind.
According to a report by Polygon, a source close to Microsoft has tipped them off about Microsoft’s lofty ambitions. Despite the Xbox One X being the “most powerful console” out on the market right now, it’s still struggling with its dire lag of exclusives and lagging sale numbers behind its main competitor, the Sony PlayStation.
Acquiring EA and Valve could potentially help Microsoft get the leg up over Sony, with EA having a network of over seven billion and having the rights to many lucrative game franchises such as the Dragon Age and Battlefield series.
Valve, on the other hand, could prove to be an even bigger cash cow for Microsoft. With Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella saying in a statement that, “We’re mobilizing to pursue an expansive opportunity in the 100+ billion gaming market” and Valve they might just be able to pursue that massive expansion.
Valve is a relatively independent company that makes the bulk of its money through its online storefront application, ‘Steam’. The online store is said to cover 70% of all PC games sold online, and its nets a decent profit off of each purchase made through its platform. While also making profits over the games it makes, like the popular MOBA Dota 2 or Team Fortress.
Though, studio head of Valve; Gabe Newell still reportedly owns the majority of his company and has a history of not particularly liking Microsoft and is known for making scathing statements like, “Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space”.
A YouTube channel that goes by the name ‘Valve News Network’ that focuses solely on Valve related news and has reportedly visited Valve and has contacts within Valve says that his sources say that CEO Gabe Newell has no intention to sell so Valve is effectively not on sale currently.
